Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for participating in the debate. Many points were raised that I will not have the opportunity to answer in great detail. However, I wish to reassure the workers, the House and the region that I am working intensely to develop a just transition strategy. As Deputies know, in the budget I secured an allocation for just transition from the carbon transition fund. We have allocated €31 million for this. I convened a group immediately to develop the aggregation model for retrofitting. It will start with social homes within the midlands region. The project aims to include many other homes so that we genuinely have a scheme for developing a strong sector within the midlands.

Deputy Stanley is not here at present but I recognise the valuable asset we have in Mount Lucas. I have been there with Deputy Corcoran Kennedy and it really is a valuable asset that we can exploit.

Deputy Jack Chambers asked about a just transition. I am working out the details for a just transition commissioner and I hope to complete them shortly. We have a cross-Government team led by the Department of the Taoiseach. We are putting together the details so that we can ensure every element can be properly furnished and we can have a comprehensive response.

I have been working with the European Union to ensure we develop the potential to support alternative activities like restoring the bog assets as well as wider activities. Lough Boora has already developed valuable facilities. That is a real asset in the community. We are liaising with the country transition teams within the European Union. They have been working on the coal restitution approach to support just transition. I assure the House that we are giving this intense attention.

There are those who are no longer present but who believe that our attention to climate action is all a conspiracy against the people. I wish to reassure people that is not the fact of it.

We will be the first generation that fails to pass on our world in as good a condition as we found it, unless we get serious about dealing with climate. Unfortunately, that means transitioning out of fossil fuels and there are consequences for that, which we recognise. That is why the attention of Government focuses on just transition. We cannot stop the gradual withdrawal from fossil fuels. We have to make sure we support people and find alternative outlets for them. I recognise the point made by Deputy Jack Chambers about giving legal assurance that the money raised by the carbon tax will be exclusively for just transition, supporting climate action and so on. That will get attention from Government and we have a wholehearted commitment to it. We will consider how it can be structured from a legal perspective.

There are valuable opportunities in restoring our boglands. Notwithstanding the criticism of some Deputies, they are genuinely a huge asset and can be part of managing carbon much more effectively. We have to make sure we do this in a proper way and this will provide valuable opportunities as well as being a valuable way to help us future-proof our country. I recognise the discontent among workers around industrial relations but the Bord na Móna statement makes it clear they are willing to use the joint structures chaired by the Workplace Relations Commission. That is a good model for dealing with difficulties and I urge people to use the Workplace Relations Commission, with which I dealt as Minister for jobs. I have absolute confidence in its capacity to manage even the most difficult situations. I am determined that we will move ahead and will have in place a just transition approach. We will have an independent just transition commissioner so that liaison between workers in communities and Government can be built.

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